The Master Facilities Plan envisions the Stampede Grandstand as the entertainment, cultural and artistic hub of the 2026 OPWG. As a centre of celebration, the venue will host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as daily Victory Ceremonies. The venue would provide visitors with the opportunity to enjoy and experience the full gamut of 2026 OPWG events.
Facility
The Stampede Grandstand is the venue for the world-famous annual Calgary Stampede Rodeo, Chuckwagon Races and Grandstand Show. The venue has a total capacity of 17,000 seats; of these, approximately 2,500 seats are not available when the venue is configured for the grandstand show. CBEC proposes installing a temporary stage within the rodeo ring and Chuckwagon track to create a stage approximately the same size as a CFL football field. We propose installing an additional 25,000 temporary seats behind the infield stands and at either end of the infield to create a seating bowl with a total seating capacity of about 40,000. Additional seating to accommodate approximately 10,000 spectators would also be installed around a portion of the chuckwagon track and throughout Stampede Park to expand participation in the ceremony experience. This additional seating will allow more spectators to be able to access an economically- priced in-person Olympic experience at the opening and closing ceremonies. Additional spectating opportunities would include utilization of the new events centre and the Saddledome for ceremony viewing.
Baseline requirements
The opening and closing ceremonies are the most prestigious and popular part of any Olympic Games. Typical attendance includes heads of state from many countries, politicians, dignitaries and famous people from all walks of life. Outfitted with premium seating and private infield suites, the Grandstand provides luxury seating, dining and hosting opportunities for the ceremonies with Ranahans, 30X Saloon and The Lazy S.
The target seating capacity for the ceremonies is a minimum of 40,000 in the main seating bowl, as noted above. As noted in Section 4.2.1 regarding the Stampede Park cluster, ceremonies require robust transport links. Staging the Opening and Closing Ceremonies within Stampede Park will allow the Games to maximize spectator use of the LRT, including both the existing Red Line and the proposed Green Line.
The ceremonies require a minimum of two hectares (approximately five acres) of back of house space to park generators and to house performers, props, staging equipment, broadcast mobiles and other logistics facilities. Olympic advisors engaged by CBEC have assessed this requirement and determined that the area adjacent to the Grandstand provides sufficient space.
Gaps and associated capital costs
CBEC has identified the main gaps that would need to be addressed for the Stampede Grandstand to be used as a venue for Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as the Victory Ceremonies and Daily Live Site, which allows the public to view the ceremonies live on large screens. These include:
- adding temporary seating to increase spectator capacity to 40,000
- adding temporary seating around the chuckwagon track for the Athletes’ parade
- constructing an elevated stage
- removing the infield roof to facilitate sight lines
The below table outlines the projected costs (including design, engineering and construction management) of addressing the identified gaps.
Before the Games, additional temporary infrastructure would be installed at the Grandstand, including concessions, washrooms, lighting and electrical and additional temporary seating throughout the Park to expand the capacity for spectator experience. These are not capital improvements and are covered by the Olympic operating budget.
Engagement
CBEC consulted with the Calgary Stampede executive management team during the exploration process to ensure the proposal fit with operational needs and aligned with long-term plans for the Grandstand. The proposed Grandstand changes would not impact the 2025 or 2026 Calgary Stampede events.
Other considerations
Built in 1960, McMahon Stadium has a solid structure and seating capacity of 34,000. The cost for increasing capacity to 40,000 seats and bringing the stadium up to Olympic standards for the various ceremonies is estimated at $16 million (see Appendix 4J Detailed Venue Analysis: McMahon Stadium).
While this cost is $9 million lower than the Grandstand improvement cost, these savings would be offset by higher security costs required at McMahon Stadium as a standalone venue. Furthermore, the Stampede Park cluster offers premium hosting facilities, as well as an opportunity to create a vibrant gathering place that will be affordable and accessible, featuring daily cultural events, sponsor activations and nightly victory ceremonies.